Sources familiar with the review indicated BBDO South got off to a bad start by sending in a pitch team larger than the limit set in the request for proposal.

The 1998 Tobacco Settlement put Georgia in line to receive $4.8 billion from tobacco companies over 25 years. Georgia’sGeneral Assembly has earmarked $15.8 million to fund efforts to cut tobacco usage in the state, so billings, sources said, are likely to grow over the next few years.

Anti-smoking marketing will have political hurdles to clear in Georgia because the state is one of the nation’s top 10 tobacco producers. In particular, Brown & William-son is a significant presence, employing more than 3,000.